Residents of Tembisa, a township in Ekurhuleni, took to the streets early on Monday morning in a show of anger against newly implemented electricity tariffs that they deem unaffordable. The protest escalated into violence when police resorted to firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, highlighting the gravity of the situation in light of the rising cost of living in South Africa.
The demonstration comes in response to the City of Ekurhuleni’s recent adjustments to electricity charges, which took effect on July 1 for the 2025 and 2026 financial year. The new fixed monthly fees stand at just under R109 for single-phase connections and more than R200 for three-phase connections—an unwelcome surprise for residents already grappling with escalating expenses.
These increases follow a national electricity tariff hike of 12.74%, approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) in April, with further increases projected at 5.36% for the 2026-2027 financial year and 6.19% for 2027-2028. Nersa indicates that these adjustments are crucial for stabilising the country’s energy supply and improving Eskom’s financial position—a situation complicated by ageing infrastructure and the ongoing threat of load-shedding.As tensions mounted, protesters barricaded streets with burning tyres, rocks, and debris, sending plumes of black smoke into the air.
The Tembisa Community Forum (TCF) quickly mobilised to support the residents, as spokesperson Brenda Mekoa publicly decried the municipality for failing to consult the community prior to implementing the new fees.“The municipality introduced these increases without alerting the community,” Mekoa told the media.
Mekoa warned that the protests could escalate further if their demands are not met. “The mayor, Alderman Nkosindiphile Doctor Xhakaza, must apologise and cancel the increases immediately. If not, things will turn uglier than this. In the midst of the turmoil, four individuals have reportedly been arrested—three men and one woman—despite TCF’s insistence that the protest was intended to remain peaceful. The police are just shooting at us randomly. It’s a peaceful protest,” Mekoa said.
The situation remains fluid, as residents of Tembisa stand united against what they perceive to be crippling tariff hikes, with vows to escalate their actions if their concerns continue to be ignored.